Percocet Addiction – 5 Ways To Stay Sober

Staying sober is never easy. Any kind of addiction, especially a Percocet addiction, changes a person both mentally and physically. Although sobriety does heal a person, unfortunately some effects of an addiction can linger, making it difficult to stay sober. However, there are a number of proven and effective strategies a person with a Percocet addiction can use to stay sober.  

What is Percocet? 

Percocet is a medication that is typically used to relieve moderate to severe pain. As a drug, percocet is a combination of oxycodone, an opioid that helps in relieving pain, and acetaminophen, a non-opioid pain reliever. Although acetaminophen is a less potent pain reliever, it increases the effects of oxycodone. Because of this combination, percocet is much stronger than opioids like oxycodone. 

How Does Percocet Affect a Person?

Like many other drugs, percocet is highly addictive. Its ability to relieve pain provides its users with a sense of relief and euphoria. However, using percocet can often come with significant side effects, including: 

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Headaches
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Blurred vision
• Itching
• Dry mouth

Sadly, percocet can affect much more than a person’s body. It can also affect their mind. Frequent percocet use can lead to addiction. When addiction occurs, it can create tolerance and dependence. Overtime, a person’s mind and body will adapt, making the effects of percocet use lesser. To address this, persons with a percocet addiction will ingest greater amounts of percocet, which can lead to overdose and potentially even death.    

Ways to Stay Sober After Recovering From a Percocet Addiction

Avoiding the side effects of a percocet addiction can only be accomplished through sobriety. To stay sober after recovering from a percocet addiction, one should consider utilizing the following relapse prevention strategies: 

#1 Find New Hobbies

Oftentimes, an addiction, such as a percocet addiction, will consume a person’s life. It becomes the center of their attention and what their life revolves around. After becoming sober, it can be difficult for some to figure out how to spend their free time. One of the best ways to fill time and avoid a relapse is through finding new, healthy hobbies. Hobbies like painting, writing, golfing, bowling, cooking, reading, and more can help distract a person from a desire to use drugs and fill any free time they have. 

#2 Create a Support Network 

Maintaining one’s sobriety is difficult but can be more difficult in isolation. One of the most effective strategies to stay sober after recovering from a percocet addiction is through creating and utilizing a support network. Nothing can help a person more than a network of friends, family, and others that will do what they can to keep oneself sober. 

#3 Seek Counseling 

Family and friends can be a great help for maintaining sobriety. However, in many cases, a professional can help even more. One of the most effective treatments for a percocet addiction is counseling. During counseling sessions, a person living with or recovering from an addiction can discuss their mental and emotional issues with an addiction specialist. These specialists can help them identify any mental and emotional triggers they may have for drug use and also provide them with coping strategies to stay sober.  

#4 Avoid Triggers for Drug Use

Triggers are the most dangerous things for those recovering from a percocet addiction. Triggers make one want to relapse and ingest percocet. However, if one can identify their triggers through counseling and/or self-reflection, they can do what they can to avoid them, which will ultimately help stay sober.  

#5 Utilize Aftercare Services 

Relapse prevention can be accomplished outside of a drug addiction treatment center or rehabilitation facility. However, staying sober can be made easier with aftercare services provided by one of these facilities. The professionals and specialists in these facilities can support an individual’s sobriety through a number of additional programs and strategies.